Expected Results
Relating back to the research objectives of this study I expect the following research hypotheses to be fulfilled:
1. Do field verified ecosystems differ in their climatic relationships at a regional scale?
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I do not expect all ecosystems to separate out climatically from each other. I do however, expect ecosystems that are ecologically similar also overlap in climatic characteristics. It is possible that the climatic overlap between ecosystems may not be greater than the expected climatic shift under a climate change scenario. This information however is still beneficial as it will shed light on how well a bioclimatic envelop approach alone can be used to identify vulnerable ecosystems.
Although I am not testing for directional trend of change between current and projected future ecosystems, I expect that the direction of change is towards ecosystems that are typically associated with “shrubbier” vegetation. Future studies might include nearby bioclimatic zones and subzones to identify contemporary counterparts. |